Press release

Short-handed Italy disappoint hosts Japan

Italian captain Lo Bianco (left) enters the court for her 500th match

Hiroshima, Japan, November 4, 2011 - Defending champions Italy, playing without their best attacker Serena Ortolani due to a back problem, ruined an excellent night for Japan fans in Hiroshima with an impressive 3-1 (25-20, 23-25, 25-18, 25-15) win on Friday.

Leading the Italians were Carolina del Pilar Costagrande with 18 and Antonella Del Core with 17. For the losing home side, Yukiko Ebata was the leading scorer in the match with 19. Saori Kimura pitched in 15.

The teams started out close with strong attacking from Yukiko Ebata out wide helping Japan to a slight 8-7 edge early. But Carolina del Pilar Costagrande countered well for the Italians scoring an early six, keeping her team even at 15-15. Italy looks solid late with a gorgeous tip at the by Del Core to put her team up 22-19. She then followed with a pair of clutch of spikes to take the set 25-20.

Japan’s Saori got started in the second, starting with an ace that sent her team ahead 3-0. Japan kept a lead but the Italians stayed close with a pair of attacks from Valentina Arrighetti and del Pilar Costagrande to tie the set at 8-8. But Ebata kept Japan driving strong with seven points in the set, including a furious spike off Simona Gioli’s would-be block, helping Japan move ahead 16-12. She would then frustrate Del Core with a stubborn block, and then a spike by Shinnabe helped Japan up 19-16. Saori completed a devastating kill after a miraculous Sano dig, to give the home squad set point at 24-21. And after a pair of Italian points, Araki put it away 25-23.

The third set remained close early on with Japan’s Ebata and Italy’s Del Core both attacking well as the teams were tied at 7-7. But a drive from del Pilar Costagrande and an incredible block from Arrighetti on Shinnabe put Italy up 15-10. A spike and an ace back-to-back from Lucia Bosetti extended the lead 20-12 for the Italians, and then del Pilar Costagrande showed nice touch to give them set point at 24-16. An errant serve from Japan’s Shinnabe handed Italy the set 25-18.

Neither team looked like they wanted the lead at the start of the fourth, with a flurry of net services by both teams and missed reception by Saori giving the Italians an 8-6 edge. Italy extended it's lead to six with a stubborn Del Core block on Nana Iwasaka. Solid attacking play late from Bosetti helped them close it out 25-15, taking the set and the match.